Reclosable carton end construction



July 14, 1959 WAGAMAN 2,894,674.

I RECLOSABLE CARTON END CONSTRUCTION Filed'July 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MERLE L. MGAMAN ATTORNEY July 14, 1959 i M. L. WAG AMAh l I 2,894,674

4 RECLOSABLE CARTON END CONSTRUCTION Filed July 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.. 7

A T TOPNE VS United! States Patent RECLOSABLE CARTON END CONSTRUCTION Merle L. Wagaman, Lynwood, Calif., assignor to liibreboard Paper Products Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application July 11, 1958, Serial No. 747,892

Claims. (Cl. 229-43) This invention generally relates to a carton of flexible and foldable material which includes an end closure and reclosure structure which may be closed initially and subsequently opened to permit access to the carton contents and which thereafter may be reclosed to protect unused carton contents.

More particularly this invention relates to a carton of flexible and foldable material, desirably paperboard, intended for packaging bakery goods or the like, comprising end closure and reclosure structure which includes a pair of inwardly foldable closure flaps, a first cover fiap foldable to overlie said closure flaps and a second cover flap foldable to overlie said first cover flap. Said cover flaps desirably include means for initially closing, opening and subsequently reclosing the carton end structure. Such means desirably includes interengageable tab and slit means for maintaining said carton end closed initially, a tear-out section which may be severed from the end structure for facilitating opening of the carton, and tongue means cooperable with the aperture which results from severing the tear-out section for effecting reclosing of the carton.

Accordingly, the objects of the present invention, among others, include the provision of a paperboard carton which may be readily and easily erected from a fiat blank; the provision of a blank from which such carton may be erected; the provision of closing means in the end closure structure of the carton for initially closing the carton end, and means cooperable with said closing means for facilitating carton opening; the provision of reclosing means on the end closure structure for reclosing the carton after such initial opening; and the provision of a window in at least one wall of such carton through which contents thereof are clearly visible.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, reference being taken to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the outer face of a flat carton blank from which the carton of this invention is erected;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of an erected carton illustrating details of the end closure and reclosure structure thereof;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a portion of the carton showing the end thereof fully closed;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the fully closed carton;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view illustrating the manner in which the carton end closure and reclosure structure may be opened;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the carton end after the same has been opened initially;

Fig. 7 is an isometric view of the end closure and reclosure structure illustrating the manner in which the same may be reclosed to protect the unused carton contents;

Fig. 8 is an end view of a carton about to be reclosed;

Fig. 9 is an isometric view of the carton end in fully reclosed condition;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 2,8945% Patented July 14, 1959 2 Ill-10 of Fig. 9 illustrating details of the carton reclosing means.

Referring first to Fig. l, a blank 2 of. foldable, flexible material, desirably paperboard, is illustrated, such blank comprising a series of four hingedly connected body wall panels 4', 6, 8 and 10. Such body wall panels are hingedly connected to each other in conventional side by side relationship along respective fold lines 12, 14 and 16. Hingedly connected to body wall panel 10 along fold line 13 is a securing panel Zllwhich is utilized for maintaining the carton in peripherally continuous condition when erected. Desirably securing panel 20 is secured to theinner [face of body Wall panel 4 when the blank is erectedin any suitable manner, desirably with adhesive.

A. pair of substantially rectangular closure flaps 22 and 22' having free end edges 23. and 23' are hingedly connected to opposite end margins of the first body wall panel 4 of the series of panels along parallel fold lines 24v and 24 respectively. Hingedly connected to the second body wall panel 6 of the series of panels are a pair of. substantially rectangular first cover flaps 26 and 26'. These cover flaps are hingedly connected to opposite end margins of panel 6 along fold lines 28 and 28', respectively.

The third body wall panel 8 of the series of panels has hingedly connected to opposite end margins thereof along fold lines 3i) and 30' another pair of substantially rectangular closure flaps 32 and 32', respectively. Closure flaps 32 and 3,2 terminate in free end edges 33 and 33, respectively. A pair of second cover flaps 34 and 34 are hingedly connected along fold lines 36 and 36', respectively, to opposite end margins of the fourth or last body wall panel 10 of the series of panels. Opposite edge portions of cover flaps 34 and 34 converge toward the middle thereof to provide substantially V-shaped outer edges 37 and 37, respectively, of such flaps.

Adjacent closure flaps and cover flaps are separated from each other so as to be freely foldable by a series of narrow cuts C and C. Desirably the fold lines which connect the closure flaps and cover flaps to the respective body wall panels are of the cut-score type. Other conventional crease lines may be utilized if desired, however.

Because the carton of the present invention is intended for packaging bakery goods, such as cakes, doughnuts and the like, among other things, it is desirable that means is provided for making the contents of the carton visible from the exterior thereof. Accordingly, a window 4.0 is provided in at least one body wall panel of the blank through which the carton contents may be seen when the carton is erected. In the embodiment illustrated, window 40 extends part way into each of adjacent body wall panels 8 and 10 so that when the carton is set up, as shown in Fig. 2, substantially the entire contents 'will be visible. Desirably a layer of transparent material 42, such as cellophane or the like, is secured to the inner surface of the blank to protect the contents of an erected carton.

As shown in Fig. 1, both ends of the carton desirably are identical. Accordingly, only one end closure and reclosure structure will be specifically described hereinafter.

The end closure and reclosure structure to be described specifically comprises the two closure flaps 22 and 32 and the first and second cover flaps 26 and 34., respectively.

After the carton blank has been formed into a peripherally continuous erected carton construction by securing flap 20 to body wall panel 4, it should be understood that the carton thereafter may be collapsed to flattened condition wherein two body wall panels lie on each side of the flattened carton. In such condition, the carton may Q be stored or shipped in quantity thereby conserving space.

To erect a carton from the flattened condition described, it is merely necessary to apply inward pressure to opposite side edges of the carton to erect the same into an open tubular configuration. When in such open tubular configuration, the carton end closure and reclosure structures may be closed initially to protect the contents previously inserted therein. Fig. 2 illustrates a carton having one end closed and the other end partially closed.

With particular reference to Fig. 2, the carton end clos ure and reclosure structure is initially closed by first folding inwardly closure flaps 22 and 32 so that the same lie in substantially a single plane and substantially completely close the carton end. In this connection, closure flaps 22 and 32 are of such size relative to the remainder of the carton that the edges 23 and 33 thereof overlap slightly. However, if desired, the closure flaps may be formed so that the edges thereof do not overlap but are spaced from each other slightly. Thereafter, the first cover flap 26 is folded upwardly to overlie the pair of overlapped closure flaps, and the second cover flap 34 thereafter is folded downwardly to overlie first cover flap 26 and is engaged therewith for maintaining the carton end closed.

As shown in Fig. 3, inter-engageable means desirably is provided for initially closing the carton end structure after the contents have been inserted in the carton. Taking reference again to the blank of Fig. 1, such carton closing means comprises an elongated T-shaped locking slit 44 formed in cover fiap 26 and spaced outwardly from fold line 28 and inwardly from the outer edge 46 of such cover flap.

Cooperable means is provided on second cover flap 34 which is inter-engageable with locking slit 44 for maintaining the carton end structure closed. Such Cooperable means comprises an enlarged locking tab 48 which extends freely outwardly beyond the V-shaped outer edge 37 of cover flap 34. As shown in Fig. 3, locking tab 48 and locking slit 44 are positioned in the respective cover flaps so that the locking tab 48 is fully insertable into the locking slit 44. In this connection, slit 44 is positioned substantially centrally of flap 26 while flap 34 is approximately one-half as long as flap 26 so that tab 48 which extends beyond edge 37 of flap 34 is positioned adjacent slit 44 when the flaps are folded to overlapped relationship.

Desirably projections 50 are formed on opposite ends of locking tab 48 and are engageable with the flap 34 adjacent opposite ends of locking slit 44 to preclude inadvertent withdrawal of the locking tab from engagement in the locking slit. Slit 44 desirably is of T configuration to impart flexibility to flap 34 to facilitate insertion of locking tab 48 therein without damaging such flap.

When the end structure is in the condition illustrated in Fig. 3, the carton is securely closed and the contents thereof protected from damage. In this connection, the overlapped inner edges 23 and 33 of closure flaps 22 and 32 strengthen the closed carton in that they provide a reinforced strut which rigidifies the end closure structure against forces exerted in the direction extending between opposite top and bottom body walls 6 and 10.

Desirably means are provided in the end closure and reclosure structure for facilitating opening of the carton end when the contents are to be removed. Such easy opening means desirably is in the form of a tear-out section 52, shown in the blank of Fig. 1 and in the erected carton of Figs. 3 and 4, which may be severed from the end structure to permit opening thereof. Such tear-out section 52 is provided in the overlying or second closure flap 34 and desirably extends outwardly from adjacent the hinged line of connection 36 of flap 34 with the associated body wall 10.

Tear-out section 52 terminates at its outer end in the locking tab 48 described previously, and terminates at its other or inner end in a pull tab 54 which is graspable to effect severing of the section from the associated cover flap. Desirably, opposite boundaries of tear-out section 52 are defined by outwardly diverging spaced li-nes of weakness 56 and 58. While such lines of weakness may be of any conventional construction, desirably each of such lines is defined by double series of perforations in which adjacent perforations are staggered or offset from each other as shown in the drawings. Such double series of perforations facilitate severing section 52 and insurea clean, neat tear.

As best shown in Fig. 4, pull tab portion 54 of tear-out section 52, when the carton is erected, extends slightly above the plane of the top body wall 10 so as to be freely graspable when the carton is to be opened. As noted in the blank of Fig. 1, such pull tab 54 is defined by an elongated somewhat U-shaped cut 60 which extends a short distance into top body wall It That is, cut 643 is not in direct alignment with fold line 36 by means of which cover flap 34 is hingedly connected to body wall panel 10. As a result, when the carton end is closed, pull tab 54 extends upright in co-planar relationship with cover flap 34 above the plane of top body wall lltl.

To open the carton end structure, it is merely necessary to grasp the projecting pull tab 54 of the tear-out section 52, as shown in Fig. 5, and to pull downwardly thereon thereby zipping out or severing the tear-out section along lines of weakness 56 and 58 from the remainder of the cover flap 34. When tear-out section 52 is completely severed, the cover flaps 34 and 26 may be pivoted about their respective hinged connections to completely open the carton. The tear-out section 52 thereafter may be slidably removed through the locking slit 44 and discarded.

While in the illustrated embodiment, tear-out section 52 extends the full length of cover flap 34, modified constructions also may be employed, For example, pull tab 54, if desired, may be struck directly from cover flap 3 1 so as to be positioned inwardly from fold line 36 and located close to locking tab 48. In such case, the pull tab would not extend beyond the plane of top body wall 10. Also, cover flaps 26 and 34 may be dimensioned so that interengaged locking tab 48 and locking slit 44 are located closely adjacent top body wall 10 when the carton end is closed. In both the above modified constructions, tear-out section 52 will be of comparatively short length.

If pull tab 54 and locking tab 48 are positioned close to each other as described, so that tear out section 52 is of short length, spaced lines of weakness 56 and 58 may be eliminated in that the tear out section could be severed without unduly destroying or damaging the remainder of cover flap 34.

When tear-out section 52 is completely removed, cover flap 34 is thereby divided into two spaced flap portions 62 and 64, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. An aperture 66 results when the tear-out section is severed, and the flap portions 62 and 64 lie on opposite sides of such aperture. Flap portions 62 and 64 cooperate with the re mainder of the end closure structure to provide means for reclosing the carton to protect the unused contents thereof.

Again calling reference to the blank of Fig. 1, such reclosing means desirably includes a depressible tongue 70 provided in first cover flap 26 adjacent the outer edge 46 thereof. In the embodiment illustrated, tongue 70 is defined by two spaced cuts 71 and 72 which converge inwardly from outer edge 46 of flap 26. If desired, however, tongue 70 could extend freely beyond the outer edge of cover flap 26. The construction illustrated is desirable, however, in that a substantially full width and full height cover flap, which extends over the full carton end structure when the same is reclosed as shown in Fig. 9, is provided.

To reclose the carton after the same has been fully a es-e74 opened as shown in Fig. 6, flap portions 62 and 64' of cover flap 34 are first folded inwardly as shown in Fig. 7. Thereafter, closure flaps 22 and 32 are folded inwardly to overlie flap portions 62 and 64 as shown in Fig. 8. The overlapping relationship of the inner edges 23 and 33 of closure flaps 22 and 32 to provide the aforementioned reinforcing strut for the reclosed carton also is illustrated in Fig. 8.

When closure flaps 22 and 32 are folded to overlie flap portions 62 and 64, a recess or opening 74 is provided through the carton end structure. Such recess 74 is defined in part by the opposing edges of flap portions 62 and 64 which define aperture 66 and in part by the upper corner portions of cover flaps 22 and 32. As shown in the blank of Fig. l, and also as illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8, the upper corners of the closure flaps 22 and 32 which lie adjacent each other when such flaps are folded are cut away at 76 and 7 8, respectively. The cutaway portions of flaps 22 and 32 provide an aperture 79 (see Fig. 7) cooperable with aperture 66 which results from severing tear-out section 52. Apertures 66 and 79 cooperate when the closure flaps 22 and 33 and flap portions 62 and 64 are folded as shown in Fig. 8 to provide tongue receiving recess 74 shown in Fig. 8.

As shown in Fig. 9, depressible tongue 70, after closure flap 26 is folded to overlie the remainder of the end closure structure, overlies recess 74 and is easily depressible into the recess 74 for securely maintaining the carton reclosed. As shown in Fig. 10, tongue 70 is depressed into the recess 74 so that the same engages with the edges of the recess defined by the flap portions 62 and 64 and closure flaps 22 and 32 with a saw-type locking action.

Furthermore, because the edges of tongue 70 are defined by the converging cuts 71 and 72 in cover flap 26, a wedge-shape is imparted to tongue 70 so that the same may be securely engaged in recess 74. See Fig. 10. The locking action of tongue 70 is further enhanced due to the fact that tear-out section 52 also is wedge shaped thereby imparting a wedge shape to aperture 66 which forms part of recess 74. As a result, tongue 70 is securely engageable with the edges of the recess with the above mentioned saw-type locking action.

To open the carton to gain access to the unused contents thereof, it is merely necessary to grasp cover flap 26 adjacent opposite side edge portions 80 and 82 thereof (Fig. 9) and pull such flap outwardly until tongue 70 is withdrawn from locking engagement with recess 74.

As a result of the simple construction, the carton may be reclosed numerous times after initial opening until the contents thereof are fully used. This reclosable construction is highly desirable in that the carton is intended for packaging perishable bakery goods, among other commodities. As a result, it is highly desirable to be able to completely enclose the unused contents to protect the same and preserve the freshness thereof until completely used.

As noted previously, both ends of the illustrated carton are identical and primes designate similar parts on opposite ends of the carton. However, it should be understood that if desired the novel end closure structure disclosed herein could be applied to only one end of the carton and more conventional closure structure applied to the opposite carton end.

While one particular embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, modifications thereof which become apparent to one skilled in the art fall within the scope of the invention and the same should be interpreted in light of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. End closure and reclosure structure for a carton of flexible material comprising a pair of cover flaps hingedly connected to body walls of said carton and overlappable in the closed condition of said carton, said flaps including interengageable means for maintaining said flaps overlapped initially, a tear out section in one of said flaps whereby said interengageable means after interengagement may be disengaged by severing said section to permit disengagement of said overlapped flaps and opening of said structure for removing contents of said carton, said tear-out section providing an aperture in said one fla'p when severed therefrom, the other of said flaps including additional means lockingly insertable into said aperture when said tear-out section is severed from said one flap and said other flap is folded to overlie said one flap, said additional means being adapted for maintaining said carton reclosed to protect unused contents thereof.

2. A carton of flexible material including openable and reclosable end closure structure comprising opposite first and second cover flaps overlappable in the closed condition of said carton with said first flap underlying said second flap, said first flap having a locking slit provided therein and said second flap having a locking tab interengageable with said locking slit for maintaining said structure closed initially, said second flap including a tear-out section terminating at one end in said locking tab whereby said structure may be opened after such initial closing by severing said tear-out section from said second flap to permit disengagement of said flaps and opening thereof for removing contents from said carton, said structure including means for reclosing said carton after such opening to protect unused contents thereof, said reclosing means including a depressible tongue on said first flap, said tongue being insertable into an aperture provided in said structure when said tear-out section is severed from said second flap and when said first flap is folded to overlie said second flap with said tongue overlying said aperture whereby said tongue may be depressed into said aperture for maintaining said carton reclosed.

3. End closure and reclosure structure for a carton of flexible material comprising a pair of inwardly folded closure flaps hingedly connected to opposite lbody walls of said carton, a first cover flap hingedly connected to another carton body wall and folded to overlie said closure flaps, and a second cover flap hingedly connected to a body wall opposite said other body wall and folded to overlie said first cover flap, cooperable means on said cover flaps comprising a locking slit in said first cover flap and a locking tab projecting from said second cover flap and engaged in said locking slit whereby said cover flaps are interengaged and said structure is maintained closed, said second cover flap including means whereby said structure may be opened comprising a tear-out section integrally connected therewith, said section including said locking tab and a pull tab spaced from said locking tab and positioned to facilitate manual grasping of said section, said structure being rapidly openable by severing said tear-out section from said second cover flap thereby disengaging said overlapped cover flaps, said first cover flap including means cooperable with said second cover flap for reclosing said carton after it has been opened comprising a depressible tongue adjacent an edge thereof, said tongue being insertable into an aperture provided in said structure when said tear-out section is severed from said second cover flap and when said first cover flap is folded to overlie said second cover flap with said tongue overlying said aperture, whereby said structure may be maintained reclosed to protect unused contents of said carton.

4. A blank of foldable material from which a carton having an easily openable and reclosable end closure structure may be erected comprising a series of hingedly connected side by side body wall panels, a first cover flap hingedly connected to a margin of one of said body wall panels and a second cover flap hingedly connected to a margin of another of said body wall panels, said cover flaps being cooperable when said blank is erected for maintaining an end of said carton closed, said first cover flap having a locking slit therein spaced from its hinged connection with said one body wall panel and also including a depressible tongue adjacent an outer edge thereof, said second cover flap including a tearout section terminating in a locking tab extending from an outer edge thereof, said locking tab being insertable into said locking slit when said blank is erected for maintaining said carton end closed, said depressible tongue being insertable into an aperture provided when said tearout section is severed from said second flap to open said carton whereby said carton end may be maintained reclosed after such opening to protect unused carton contents.

5. A blank of foldable paperboard or like flexible material from which a carton having an easily openable and reclosable end closure structure may be erected comprising a series of four hingedly connected side by side body wall panels, a closure flap hingedly connected to a margin of a first panel of said series and a similar closure fiap hingedly connected to a margin of the third panel of said series, a first cover flap hingedly connected to the margin of the second panel of said series, and a second cover flap hingedly connected to a margin of the last panel of said series, said closure flaps and cover flaps being foldable to close an end of said carton when said blank is erected with said first cover flap overlying said closure flaps and with said second cover flap overlying said first cover flap, said first cover flap including a depressible tongue and a locking slit formed therein and spaced from said ton ue, said second cover flap including a tear-out section comprising a pull tab at an end thereof adjacent the hinged connection of such cover fiap with said last body wall panel and a locking tab at another end extending beyond an outer edge of such cover flap, said locking tab being engageable in said locking slit when said blank is erected for maintaining said carton end closed and said depressible tongue being engageable in an aperture provided when said tear-out section is severed for maintaining said erected carton end reclosed.

6. The blank of claim wherein at least one of said body walls is cut out to provide a window through which the contents of said carton are visible when said blank is erected.

7. The blank of claim 5 wherein spaced lines of weakness are provided in said second cover flap, said lines extending between said pull tab and said locking tab thereby defining opposite boundaries of said tear-out section and facilitating severing thereof.

8. A paperboard carton for bakery goods or the like comprising a plurality of body walls and closure and reclosure structure for an end of said carton including means for closing and opening said carton end initially and means for reclosing said carton end to protect unused contents of said carton after the same has been initially opened; said end closure and reclosure structure comprising a pair of closure flaps hingedly connected to a pair of opposite body walls of said carton and foldable inwardly to close said carton end with their inner edges in opposing relationship, each of said closure flaps having a portion thereof cut away adjacent an edge whereby an aperture is provided between said closure flaps when the same are folded inwardly, a first cover flap hingedly connected to another of said body walls and foldable to overlie said closure flaps when folded, and a second cover flap hingedly connected to the body wall opposite said other body wall and foldable to overlie said first cover flap; said initial closing and opening means comprising a locking slit in said first cover flap and a locking tab on said second cover flap interengageable with said locking slit, said locking tab being connected to a tear-out section of said second cover flap, said tear-out section being adapted to be severed from said second cover flap whereby said first and second cover flaps are disengageable to permit opening of said carton end after initial closing, said tearout section including a pull tab at its end opposite said locking tab, said pull tab being readily graspable for facilitating severing of said tear-out section; said reclosing means comprising a depressible tongue provided on said first cover flap for engagement in a recess provided in said end closure structure when said first cover flap is folded to overlie said second cover flap after such initial opening, said recess being provided by said aperture between said closure flaps in conjunction with an aperture resulting when said tear-out section is severed from said second cover flap during such carton initial opening, whereby said carton may be reclosed to protect unused contents thereof.

9. The carton of claim 8 wherein said pull tab extends freely at least a short distance beyond a plane including said opposite body wall to which said second cover flap is hingedly connected.

10. The carton of claim 8 wherein spaced lines of weakness are provided in said second cover flap, said lines extending between said pull tab and locking tab thereby defining opposite boundaries of said tear-out sec tion and facilitating severing thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 358,671 Jaeger Mar. 1, 1887 1,985,590 Weiss Dec. 25, 1934 2,143,536 Blau Jan. 10, 1939 

